Trailer



3, 1939. v c. J. ANDERSON Er AL 2,168,661

TRAILER Filed April 29, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORJ 61/ fizz/ersarufi a. J. ANDERSON ET AL 2,168,661

TRAILER Filed April 29. [1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A1184 8, 1939- c. J. ANDERSON r AL 2,163,661

TRAILER Filed April 29, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 g- 8, c. J. ANDERSON El AL ,661

5 TRAILER Filed April 29, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATT6RNEY$ the top in its Patented Aug. 8, 1939 Q UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE Tamra poration of New York Application April 29, 1936, Serial No. mm

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a. trailer, and it has to do particularly with a trailer of the twowheel type adapted to be hitched to the rear end of an automotive vehicle.

The general object of the invention is to provide such a trailer oi general utility, suitable for private use, semi-commercial 115e,. or for that matter, full commercial use. Among the specific objects ofthe invention are the following: the provision of. a trailer of compact construction which can be used for camping purposes. in which connection it may be employed for carrying luggage and equipment, and it may be so arranged as to, serve as a sleeping compartment;

the-provision of a trailer of closed construction and which may. be partially opened for sleeping.

purposes so, that thepermanent of the trailer -mv des the ver d-c n y: t rov s n of trailer which may employed for semi-comm h em or xam in t isp a o v vmerchandise by truck farmers or other market persons; the provision of a novel and simple arrangement embodying supporting legs, and a cradle for supporting the open top, when the top is used for displaypurposes; the provision of a simple and expedient arrangement for providillg enclosing curtains when the trailer is used in partially open form for sleeping purposes.

A further object is ,to provide, in a trailer having an openable top portion, a simple rugged eilective and fool-proof supporting means for holding the top of the trailer in partially open position.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. side elevational view of the trailer showing the same in detached and supported position.

Fig. 2 is a. cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a prossvsectional view taken substantially on. line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view looking into the trailer with partially open position and lllllS-r trating the supports therefor.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the support mounting.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed section taken substantially on line l -l of Figs. 4 and 8.

Fig. 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7 showing the switch back structure.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing structural parts and taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on line low-l0 of Fig. 3 showing the rear gate arrangement.

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the rear gate mounting and taken substantially on line Il-ll of Fig. 3. I

' Fig. 12 is a view illustrating the hinge connection for the top or cover taken substantially on line l2-l2 of Fig.3.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the trailer with the top in open position for use as adisplay I Fig. 14 is a plan view of the supporting legs and cradle in collapsed position. v

Fig. 15 is a sectional view. taken substantially on line li-li of Hg. 14. r

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view of the. trailer with curtains applied may be used as a sleeping compartment.

Fig. l! is a perspective view or tlfle'tra'iler the curtains applied thereto.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line li-ll of 'Fig. 16 showing the curtain mounting.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional view taken suea with 1 stantially on line lS-l! of Fig. 16 showing the I lower curtain mounting.

The running gear of the trailer is preferably of a simple construction comprising channel frame members I which preferably converge at the forward end as at 2 where they are suitably united as for example by means of a gusset plate 3. Suitable cross members may be provided. There is an axle l carrying at opposite ends wheels 5, and the frame is spring mounted thereon as by means of leaf springs 6 which are preferably underslung with respect to the axle, as shown in Fig. 2.

The trailer is preferably of all metal construction. The body of the trailer, as shown at II, o

is of sheet metal constructionland may be substantially of one piece of metal fashioned from the back, forwardalong oneside, across the front, and" then back along'the opposite side.'

This sheet metal panelis shown at l'l while the floor of the trailer. which is also preferably of sheet metal. is shown at I2. Suitable supporting cross'members l3 underlie the floor and are attached to the frame in a suitable manner. Some of these may be of channel form with the form inverted as shown in Fig. 3, while some, as for example, the rear cross member Il, may have the channel shape laid on itsside. The lower edges of the exterior sheet metal I I may be fashioned to underlie the side supporting rails l5, as

shown'at Ii (13185.2 and 9). 'lhesides ofthe body may be reenforced by vertical strut members II, which may be of channel structure, and around the edge of the body on the inside there die in the, opposite direction the locking plates are pushed outwardly away from each other and in locking engagement with the keepers. This is but one of a number of ways to lock the cover 1| in position. -It will be appreciated thatif the spindle for the handle II is key operated that when it is locked the handle is ineffective for releasing the plates from the keepers 44.

When the closed trailer body is to be opened provides a sort of V formation with the open end thereof directed "toward the rear portion of the cover.

Now to lower or 'close the cover it is merely grasped and opened further than that position 5; may be a reenforcing channel I8, As perhaps, so that it may be loaded or unloaded or used as 5 best shown in Fig. 16, the sheet metal exterior a sleeping compartment, it is, of course, depanel H may be fashioned over the upper edge sirable to have the top supported. The invenof the channel II, as shownat I. These parts tion aims to provide a simple eifective supporting may be suitablyunited preferably by means of means and counter-balancing means for the top.

welding, although. rivets, or other connections To this end there is a support member Blypref- 10 may be used within the desire of the manufacerably one on each side of the body. pivotally turer. Suitable fenders Ill may be attached to mounted as at 5|. Each member may extend the body for covering the upper portions of the through the reenforcing member It as shown in wheels. Fig.6. The upper end of the member 50 may be Onthe inside of the body there is preferablya of plain rounded formation, as shown. A tension 15 rail 25. This may extend substantially coma spring 52 is attached to the lower end, with the pietely around the interior of the body and it spring attached at its opposite end to the trailer may be used for the purpose of tying down the body, as for-example to one of the vertical struts contents and, of course, the same also serves as a IT, as shown at 53. The mounting 5| is preferreenforcement. This rail may be attached to the ably fairly tight so as to keep the struts in alignvertical supports l1. ment. When the cover is closed. as shown by the The rear end of the body is preferably provided full lines in Fig. ,3, the arm 50 is held down in a with a;. tail .-gate. This tail-gate is preferably substantially horizontal position by the Z irons ,hinged.along its lower edge so as to be opened as 40; andin this position the spring 52 is tenillustrated in'Fig. 13. A subframe'i l may be atsioned. As the cover is opened the spring tends tached tothe rear part of the body frame, as to. turn the strut on its pivot point. For example, M Shown in Fig. 11 and a pivot rod Il may extend, the strut shown in Fig. 3 is rocked clockwise on its acrosstlie'tail-"gate opening and upon which the pivot; therefore, as the cover is lifted the free i V gate is fuiorumed. The rod 28 maytin'n in the end of the strut follows upwardly with the a name pawn, or the tail-gate may turn on the" cover, remaining at all times incontact with the w rod-1 One or more suitable flexible elements, such fl eembe Indeed, the tension of the gasel a qllayaiarbeused to hold the tail-gate spring aids in opening the cover. The strength ima'i' position approximately horizontal, as illus of the two springs where two struts are used are ttated. At the tail gate openinga channel for- "prop on d 88 in effect counter-mlflnce f mation ll is preferably provided, andthe tail- L the cover, and once it is partially opened,it will u gatepreferably hasppposite edges angularly disnot fall into closed position but will be heldby the 1 ,as at If foriittingiinto the channel II. sprin s- Fur he m ai s Pr 18 811N188 =Tliisispreferablya looseflt: but provides, due to the strength of the springs, that in the event 1 l theg-interflttihg. n more'or less water-proof or' of failure of one spring or'onestrut, the other is I I. dustproofarrangementj that. is, water-proof pr amply. strong to keep the cover from falling into a,

. dust-proof under the conditions with which the closed position. Thus, there is no-danger of the t ra iler. is to be The tail-gate 28 may pref cover falling closed on the fingers or other part erably be'ofbos'construction having an outsideff of the person or persons attending trailer or panel 31 and an inside panel 3!. a standing around the same.

W .Thef'top of the trailer, that is the closure ele- A simple arrangement is provided forpositivementyis'preferably of a domed sheet metal strucly holding the cover in its open clam-like positure II hing'edly mounted to the body. For this tion, asshown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. This purpose the body may be equipped with hinge means is as follows: Each member I is provided butts" throughwvhich pintle pins 31 are taken. with a recess 55, and when the cover has been m ;This ,top member, may be suitably reenforced lifted to the dotted illustration shown in Fig. 3 around its edge, as for example, by a suitable rethe spring serves to snap the free end of the strut enforcing structural metal herein shown as in the into the recess. This position is shown in Figs. 7 form of 2 iron 40. As shownin Fig. 3, the top, and 8. With the end of the strut thus located when in closed position telescopes over the upin the recess the top is held positively located.

as per end ofthe tail-gate. The result is that the The end of the strut has moved along the mem- 55 top holds the tail-gate closed. However, if deber 40 with the member 40 serving as a sort of sirable, additional means may beemployed'for a track. In order to lower the cover-it is, of holding the tail-gate closed. course, necessary to disengage the strut '50 from Suitable means may be provided for latching the recess. The invention includes provision for so ;and preferably locking the cover in closed posithis purpose in an automatic manner. Adjacent w tion. Such; means may take the form of a haneach recess there is a switchback arrangement dle 4| mounted on a spindle which is preferably which y t the form of a p e of a l i n,

,keyoperatedandthe handle functionsto turn'a one 188 thereoffis 55 eing attached to the I crossqpiece t -connected to links 3 (Fig. 2). e be im'd'the other leg as at 51 Projecting Suitable keepers 4! maybe provided on thebody Substantially v tically relativeto the member under which locking plates 4a are adapted to fit, Eac le i member is sed dily at these locking plates being connected tothe links an angle to the side of the cover so that one end 43. Bytu'rning the handle 4| inlone direction the thereof. as shown at BI, is relatively close to the lockingplates are drawn together and thus reoutside edge 62 of the cover, while the opposite L leased from the keepers, and by turning the hanend is inwardly of the edge of the cover. This 7o shown in Fig. 3. Each spring causes its arm ii to follow the coverand the end of the strut becomes engaged between the flange 51 and the side wall 60 of the cover, and after the cover has been raised a slight amount the free end of the strut moves over the flange 51 substantially as illustrated by the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8. Now the cover is moved downwardly and the free end of the strut is guided around the recess 50. In other words, the free end slides along the flange 51, the strut beingflexed out of its normal position somewhat until it moves off of the opposite end of the angle iron, and the strut more or less springs back by its own tension tendency to a position adjacent the edge of the cover. To facilitate this action the portion 51 and 50 of each angle iron may be beveled ofi near the end 60 as shown inFig. 8.

Briefly reiterating the operation of opening and closing the cover, it may be pointed out that as the cover is raised the struts 50 follow the same, move into the open mouth of the V formation and settle in the recesses 55, andthecover is held in open position. To lower the cover it is further raised until theends of the struts move out of the apex of the V, and then upon lowering they are guided around the recesses by the flanges 51.-

A simplified support is arranged for the front end of the frame. This may take the form .of a pair of arms which may be of tubular structure, as shown at 65, fixedly secured to a cro piecei6t opposite ends of which are journaled as" at 61. The arms may be reenforced by a cross piece I. In supporting position thesearms take the position substantially as illustrated in Fig. 13, abutting against a gusset plate 10 at the forward end of the trailer to prevent collapsing. -'Wh'eh in traveling position the arms 65 are,swurig ;.rearwardly, and due to their inherent tension -maybe flexed inwardly and their ends, which are outwardly projecting as shown, caught in the channel of the frame members, as shown in Fig. 14. To prevent rattling, the ends of the struts may be covered with rubber or other soft material, as

illustrated at H. i

A cradle structure is provided for supporting the top in full open position, as shown in Fig. 13.

This cradle structure may take the form of a pair of arms 12 with outwardly projecting ends preferably provided with coverings of rubber or the like, as shown at I3. These arms may be connected by a reenforcingmember I4 and are pivoted as at 15 to the cross rocker member 66. In traveling position the cradle may be pivoted backwardly as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, and may rest upon the support '55 preferably with the rubber covering I3 lying on the supporting arms for anti-rattle purposes. To support the cover the cradle is rocked forward where it may rest upon the forward end of the frame, as shown in Fig..14.

The cover, when in the Fig. 13 position, may be used fora number of purposes, as for example, it may be used in a market or along the roadside by those who are dispensing of farm products, or

the products of a truglg'gardener or the liken a partial open position when the cover is supported by the struts, which gives sort of aclam-shell effect, as shown in Figs. 3, 16 and 17.

The trailer-is intended tobe used in this position when employed as a sleeping compartment by tourists or the like. The top of the trailer provides a canopy for a protection against the elements. In addition to the top, however, curtains may be provided for enclosing the open clamshell form. To this end there may be a pair of curtains 8d and 8| arranged to be connected on the center line by any suitable means, as shown at 82. To give added length for sleeping purposes, the tail gate may be opened, as illustrated in Fig. 16, thus to provide additional space.

for accommodating th'e'pedal-extremities. The curtains may be of suitable shape designed to substantially fit the V opening, and are preferably mounted in a simple manner. One manner of mounting'them isto provide each curtain along its upper edge with a series of hooks 83 for hooking over-ithe member 40 on its inside edge,

being rain-proof, inasmuch as the upper edges of the curtains are positioned inside the cover or top, with the curtains overhanging the body. Of

course, the curtains may be provided with suitable} ventilating openings, if desired, as for example, openings'provided with mosquito netting. The

=curtains-may be provided in one piece, but this falls-within the scope of the invention, for .a single piece would have two portions, one for each side of the trailer.

Accordingly, it will be noted that the trailer provided by this invention is of relatively small compact structure; it is preferably relatively low in over-all height so that when hitched to an automotive vehicle the driver of the vehicle may have a clear vision over the top of the trailer through his rear vision mirror. A trailer constructed in accordance with the invention has been so designed. While traveling, a large compartment is provided for carrying luggage and other equipment. At night it may be quickly converted into asleeping quarters by raising the top to the clam-shell position and hooking the curtains into place. While in the camp, say during the day time, the cover may be fully opened so that the various articles of equipment and baggage may be spread out, thereby making them more accessible. The trailer is a simple one, with the result that it can be furnished to the public at'a relatively low cost. The owner of such a trailer mayuse it for semi-commercial purposes. in'the event it is necessary 'to-haul or transfer household furniture, baggage or other articles. Itis likewise especially useful for farmers or truck gardeners who wish to haul and display their products at a suitable place along the side of the highway or at the market, the cover serving, in its open position, as a tray for such display. The top support is especially desirable in that the spring tension on the supporting arms is sufficient to substantially'balance the. top so that it will not fall down by gravity. This is particularly desirable where the trailer is used by those'such as tourists or campers who are not familiar with handling such devices, or who are careless or forgetful and may knock the cover to an automotive vehicle and comprisingza body devices are secured to the forward gusseted end of the trailer frame.

We claim: 1. A two wheel trailer adapted to be connected open at its top, a frame projecting forwardly from the body, a cover hinged to the forward part of the body and openable to a substantially horizontal position forwardly of the body, an axis member mounted in the forward projecting portion of the frame, supporting legs on the axis member movable to ground engaging position and foldable rearwardly to collapsed position, a cradle member mounted on the axis member and foldable rearwardly and arranged to rest upon the collapsed supporting legs and movable forwardly to serve as a cradle for supporting the open top.

porting position.

2. A two wheel trailer adapted to be connected to an automotive vehicle and comprising, a body open at its top, a frame projecting forwardly from the body, a cover hinged to the forward part of the body and openable to a substantially horizontal position forwardly of the body, an axis member mounted in the forward projecting portion of the frame, supporting legs on the axis member movable to ground engaging position and foldable rearwardly to collapsed position, a cradle member mounted on the axis member and foldable rearwardly and arranged to rest upon the collapsed supporting legs and movable forwardly to serve as a cradle for supporting the open top, said supporting legs adapted to be engaged in the channel formation of the frame when in collapsed position and the cradle arranged to rest upon the forward portion of the frame when in top sup- CARL J. ANDERSON. J. CLYDE 'MCKEE. 

